Doreen Ngemera Ngemera, Grade 11
UWCEA Arusha Campus
Write about a recent struggle/issue related to the country you are from/your school is located in. Develop the context of the issue - reference and cite facts, figures, and sources (we will run all articles through a plagiarism checker). Voice your opinion on these current issues. How can they be solved? Include a bibliography at the end. (650 words max)
Teenage pregnancy is a prolonged issue that faces young Tanzanian girls especially those residing in rural areas, villages. According to Human Rights Watch Organization (HRW) 22 percent of young girls give birth before the age of 18 in Tanzania. This accounts for around 360,000 young girls at a disadvantage of teenage pregnancies each year.
One of the main reasons as to why girls are victims of teenage pregnancies are the old ideologies held by their parents and guardians of those residing in rural areas; villages. The belief that once a girl reaches the age of 15 or undergoes menstruation can be married is one many still hold. In comparison to boys some girls lack the opportunity to attend school in order to perform domestic household chores such as caring for her siblings. Under these circumstances, it becomes a challenge for them to fulfill their dreams. Those who do get the chance to go to school usually stop their education once of age.
There is a correlation between education and the ages as to which young girls bear children in Tanzania. According to UNFPA, fifty percent of adolescent girls who get pregnant have little to no education. While this is still an issue for many there are education programs provided to parents and guardians as well as girls in rural areas about the importance of a girl child’s education. This has helped increase the number of girls enrolled in schools in rural areas. Investment in enabling and promoting the education of a girl child is highly crucial.
Another major reason that faces girls leading to teenage pregnancies is bribery. Most adolescent girls who get pregnant before 18 are usually victims of bribery into involvement of sexual activity. Usually, girls who attend government schools walk as their main means of transport to school. Those whose schools are a greater distance are offered free rides to schools by motorcycle drivers as a form of bribery. This usually takes place over an extensive period of time. Most motorcycle drivers offer them money as well small gifts as a form of tricking them. In most cases this works leading to young girls’ involvement in sexual activity with the motorcycle drivers. Due to a background of poverty the girls are often left with no choice but to accept the offers from motorcycle drivers against their wishes.
A solution that could be effective when implemented is establishing busses per region to accustom the girls to and from school. Since most are usually victims of bribery from motorcycle drivers due to a lack of transportation establishing free transport for young girls would be highly efficient.
In conclusion, teenage pregnancy is an issue that many young Tanzanian girls still face. This leaves them disadvantaged to other several problems including proper access to proper healthcare services and access to sexual and reproductive health education. stablishing projects that aim to educate Tanzania’s communities on the importance of educating a girl child is crucial as the majority in rural regions do not see its importance.
Teenage pregnancy is a prolonged issue that faces young Tanzanian girls especially those residing in rural areas, villages. According to Human Rights Watch Organization (HRW) 22 percent of young girls give birth before the age of 18 in Tanzania. This accounts for around 360,000 young girls at a disadvantage of teenage pregnancies each year.
One of the main reasons as to why girls are victims of teenage pregnancies are the old ideologies held by their parents and guardians of those residing in rural areas; villages. The belief that once a girl reaches the age of 15 or undergoes menstruation can be married is one many still hold. In comparison to boys some girls lack the opportunity to attend school in order to perform domestic household chores such as caring for her siblings. Under these circumstances, it becomes a challenge for them to fulfill their dreams. Those who do get the chance to go to school usually stop their education once of age.
There is a correlation between education and the ages as to which young girls bear children in Tanzania. According to UNFPA, fifty percent of adolescent girls who get pregnant have little to no education. While this is still an issue for many there are education programs provided to parents and guardians as well as girls in rural areas about the importance of a girl child’s education. This has helped increase the number of girls enrolled in schools in rural areas. Investment in enabling and promoting the education of a girl child is highly crucial.
Another major reason that faces girls leading to teenage pregnancies is bribery. Most adolescent girls who get pregnant before 18 are usually victims of bribery into involvement of sexual activity. Usually, girls who attend government schools walk as their main means of transport to school. Those whose schools are a greater distance are offered free rides to schools by motorcycle drivers as a form of bribery. This usually takes place over an extensive period of time. Most motorcycle drivers offer them money as well small gifts as a form of tricking them. In most cases this works leading to young girls’ involvement in sexual activity with the motorcycle drivers. Due to a background of poverty the girls are often left with no choice but to accept the offers from motorcycle drivers against their wishes.
A solution that could be effective when implemented is establishing busses per region to accustom the girls to and from school. Since most are usually victims of bribery from motorcycle drivers due to a lack of transportation establishing free transport for young girls would be highly efficient.
In conclusion, teenage pregnancy is an issue that many young Tanzanian girls still face. This leaves them disadvantaged to other several problems including proper access to proper healthcare services and access to sexual and reproductive health education. stablishing projects that aim to educate Tanzania’s communities on the importance of educating a girl child is crucial as the majority in rural regions do not see its importance.
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